Private Lessons

Private lessons are highly recommended. Private teachers can help with preparation for All-State Band auditions, preparation of difficult band music, and selection and preparation of Solo and Ensemble music for performance at F.B.A. Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment.

​Lessons are coordinated through Mr. Ostrow and each lesson teacher. They typically occur after school. In the summer, Mr. Ostrow will simply put you in contact with an instructor. Lessons are not required, but are highly encouraged. 

Benefits of Private Lessons

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Beth Morrison
Flute

​Beth Ann Morrison is a professional flutist whose performance experience spans thirty years.  Having appeared with dozens of organizations from New Jersey to Florida, Beth has served as Principle Flute and also Piccolo Soloist of the Sarasota Concert Band and the Venice Symphony, where she was featured on the Irish Penny Whistle and Baroque recorders. In 2012 she performed several concerts in London, England.  She has served as an adjudicator for Middle and High School contests and has coached flute students in several districts throughout Florida. Beth especially enjoys playing the Flute and Piccolo with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and serves on the Faculty of  the CSO Summer Music Camp as well as the Sarasota Orchestra Summer Music Camp. Beth is the Music Teacher and Choral Director at Neil Armstrong Elementary School and a freelance photographer.

Michelle Jensen
Clarinet and saxophone

Ms. Jensen is currently the elementary music teacher at Sallie Jones.  She taught HS for 13 years prior to moving (and maintained a private lesson schedule for 50+ students each year). She has also taught private lessons at the college level (Ashford University) and she directed a regional honors youth jazz band (Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Youth Jazz Band based in Bettendorf, IA).

Dr. Bill Dederer
Trumpet

Dr. Dederer’s holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education degree (Magna Cum Laude) from SUNY Fredonia, and a Master of Music in Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
 
He served as a Professor of Trumpet for 13 years at SUNY Fredonia before becoming Dean, and later Vice President for Academic Affairs, at The Boston Conservatory for 16 years, followed by serving as the Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, OH.
 
He has appered in solo and ensemble performances on trumpet with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Chicago Ballet, Buffalo Philharmonic, Erie (PA) Philharmonic, Nashua (NH) Symphony, Granite State Ballet, D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, Geneseo (NY) Symphony, Toledo Concert Band, Mid-Hudson Concert Band, Verde Valley Sinfonietta, and numerous other organizations. He has adjudicated numerous solo and ensemble festivals in New York, Texas, and through out New England. 

Susan Betz
French Horn

Susan is an experienced horn player with a degree in music education. She is also our elementary music teacher at Vineland Elementary School.

Lessons last 30 minutes and cost $20. Dr. Dederer charges $25. Please make checks out to the instructor. The band program and the school do not benefit financially from lessons. During the school year, Mr. Ostrow is on hand to monitor the band building during private lesson times. Lesson times are posted in the band room on the bulletin board by the entryway and confirmed weekly.